How to replace gas pipe clips?

[MikeWright]

I have a copper 22mm gas pipe about 10m long fitted to the outside wall by a Gas engineer using plastic clips with spacers. The clips have become brittle with age and are breaking up. The pipe passes through the brickwork and has no flex in it. Any ideas on how I can replace these clips as the fixing holes are directly behind the centre line and are inaccessible. I’m a competent DIY‘er with a decent range of tools.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Any pictures of said clips and rough distance off the wall to centre of pipe ?

 

[MikeWright]

Any pictures of said clips and rough distance off the wall to centre of pipe ?

Clips used are Talon 22mm white plastic with spacers, as sold by Screwfix. The spacer puts the clip about 10mm off the wall. Tried taking a picture but couldn't put it on this computer

 

[Gasmk1]

You could remove all the clips and replace with brass stand off clips https://plumbingsuppliesdirect.co.uk/stand-off-pipe-clips-multiple-sizes-finishes/

 

[MikeWright]

You could remove all the clips and replace with brass stand off clips

Thanks

 

[Timmy D]

Thanks

Shouldn’t have been plastic clips to begin with. Brass munsen clips would also likely work.

 

[Martin richardson]

Shouldn’t have been plastic clips to begin with. Brass munsen clips would also likely work.

Hi... Just spotted this thread.... A registered gas boiler fitter just installed a new boiler on a property am working on, and another plumber has said he should not have used plastic hinged clips.... The pipe is 22mm,external and 8' off the ground.... Is there any current regulations which tells you which type of clips to be used.... Thanks martin

 

[Ric2013]

This is a good question. I worked with a RGI who insisted that A a gas pipe MUST be supported by hinged/cover clips as a minimum if indoors, and B a gas pipe must not rely on plastic clips at all if external, but other plumbers I have met who have worked with RGIs say these are rules my RGI has made up (though they certainly seem to be a best-practice approach).

Would be nice to know who is actually right.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Plastic are fine exterior aslong as there uv rated but I wouldn’t always brass musoons for me

 

[Timmy D]

Talon hinged clips are UV stabilised polypropylene, so are fine for external applications.

Cheaper plastic clips are not always UV stabilised. If they’re not UV stabilised, they can’t be used outside.

 

[king of pipes]

No plastic on my jobs chaps

 

[Enthalpy]

Many of the houses nearby (built about 30 years ago) have had the original internal pipes replaced by gas pipes clipped to the outside of the building by white plastic clips. The Talon website states ‘UV Stabilized, therefore will not discolour’.

UV stabilised does not mean UV resistant.

‘Polypropylene is highly susceptible to degradation by UV radiation in its base form (i.e. no pigment or additives). The material becomes brittle after prolonged exposure. In fact, basic polypropylene can lose up to 70% of its mechanical strength after 6 days worth of exposure to high-intensity UV radiation. It should be noted, however, that even with the additives, polypropylene will still degrade relatively quickly when exposed to sunlight for a prolonged period of time.’

In my opinion, it is only a matter of time before the polypropylene clips exposed to the sun crumble leaving the gas pipes hanging of the walls.